Iran calls latest US strikes 'bad faith' sign as internet slowly restored

Summary

Iran calls latest US strikes 'bad faith' sign as internet is slowly restored In short: Iran has denounced US strikes as a sign of "bad faith and unreliability" as ceasefire negotiations continue. The Islamic Republic has started to restore internet access after one of the longest-ever nationwide shutdowns. What's next? Israel says it has attacked Hamas's new armed wing chief as it steps up military pressure in Gaza and expands ground operations in Lebanon. Iran has denounced US strikes in the country's south as a sign of "bad faith and unreliability" as negotiations toward a possible deal to end the war continue. The attacks came as the Islamic Republic began restoring internet access after one of the longest nationwide shutdowns ever. The US military characterised Monday's strikes in southern Iran as defensive, saying targets included missile launch sites and mine laying boats. It said the US acted with "restraint". Iran's foreign ministry said the strikes were a violation of the ceasefire and warned that Washington would bear responsibility for "all consequences". "The Islamic Republic of Iran will leave no act of aggression unanswered," it said a statement. Iran's Revolutionary Guard said on Tuesday, local time, that it shot down at least one drone and deterred another drone and a fighter jet that entered its airspace, according to Iran's official Mizan news agency. It did not specify when the incidents occurred. Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei used a statement about Islam's annual Hajj pilgrimage to address his country's confrontation with the US and Israel, declaring that other Middle Eastern nations would "no longer serve as a shield" for US military bases. Iran has previously complained about US military facilities in the region and targeted them. It was not immediately clear what the developments would mean for negotiations. Iranian state TV reported on Tuesday that Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had left Qatar, where talks had been taking place. The report did not elaborate or point to any next steps. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he expected talks on extending the ceasefire and reopening the crucial Strait of Hormuz would "take a few days". Internet slowly being restored Meanwhile, Iranian authorities eased a months-long internet shutdown that they cast as a wartime necessity, but that has cost the country's economy an estimated $30 million to $40 million a day. Internet users reported that access was gradually being restored in some places. State media said fixed broadband service was back. It was unclear when mobile internet would be widely restored. Iran has long enforced filters and policed content on platforms such as YouTube and Instagram. But before the war, Iranians could bypass restrictions with cheap virtual private networks, known as VPNs, and other easy workarounds. Authorities cut off internet access in January during massive anti-government demonstrations and later began to relax those restrictions before imposing a complete internet blackout after the US and Israel attacked in February. The internet outage made it difficult for Iranians outside the country to maintain contact with loved ones and the lack of connectivity devastated the country's relatively vibrant online businesses, putting further pressure on an already battered economy. Israel strikes Hamas chief Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the IDF had attacked Mohammad Odeh, who it identified as Hamas’s new armed wing chief in Gaza, as it steps up military pressure in the strip and expands ground operations in Lebanon. Mr Netanyahu's statement did not say whether Israel believed Mr Odeh was killed. Mr Netanyahu said Mr Odeh had headed Hamas's intelligence division at the time of the October 7, 2023 cross-border attack into Israel and was appointed about a week ago to replace Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the group's chief armed commander, who was killed by Israel on May 15. Sources close to Hamas did not confirm Mr Odeh's appointment as the new military chief but agreed he was seen as Mr Haddad's possible successor. Hours before the attack Israel announced it had expanded ground operations in Lebanon. Israel is intensifying its military activities on multiple fronts. There was no immediate comment from Hamas. AP